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Calculus and Vectors How to get an A+

8.3 Vector, Parametric, and Symmetric Equations of a Line in R3


A Vector Equation
The vector equation of the line is:
r r
r
r = r0 + tu , t R
where:
r
r = OP is the position vector of a generic point
P on the line,
r
r0 = OP0 is the position vector of a specific
point P0 on the line,
r
u is a vector parallel to the line called the
direction vector of the line, and
t is a real number corresponding to the
generic point P .

Ex 1. Find two vector equations of the line L that passes


through the points A(1,2,3) and B(2,1,0) .
r
If we use the direction vector u = AB = (1,3,3) and the point
A(1,2,3) L , then the vector equation of the line L is:
r
L : r = (1,2,3) + t (1,3,3), t R
r
If we use the direction vector u = BA = (1,3,3) and the point
B(2,1,0) L , then the vector equation of the line L is:
r
L : r = (2,1,0) + s (1,3,3), s R

Ex 2. Find the vector equation of a line L2 that passes


through the origin and is parallel to the line
r
L1 : r = (2,0,3) + t (1,0,2), t R .
r
L2 : r = s (1,0,2), s R

B Specific Lines
r
A line is parallel to the x-axis if u = (u x ,0,0), u x 0 .
In this case, the line is also perpendicular to the
yz-plane.

Ex 3. Find the vector equation of a line that:


a) passes through A(3,2,0) and is parallel to the y-axis
r
r = (3,2,0) + t (0,1,0), t R
b) passes through M (1,0,4) and is perpendicular to the yzplane
r
r = (1,0,4) + t (1,0,0), t R

r
c) passes through P (3,0,0) and is perpendicular to the x-axis
A line with u = (0, u y , u z ), u y 0, u z 0 is parallel to r
r = (3,0,0) + t (0, a, b), t R . At least one of a or b is not 0 .
the yz-plane.

d) passes through the origin and is parallel to the xz-plane


r
r = t (a,0, b), t R . At least one of a or b is not 0 .

C Parametric Equations
Let rewrite the vector equation of a line:
r r
r
r = r0 + tu , t R
as:
( x, y, z ) = ( x0 , y 0 , z 0 ) + t (u x , u y , u z ), t R
The parametric equations of a line in R3 are:
x = x0 + tu x

y = y0 + tu y , t R

z = z 0 + tu z

Ex 4. Find the parametric equations of the line L that passes


through the points A(0,1,2) and B (1,1,3) . Describe the line.
r
u = AB = (1,0,1); A(0,1,2) L
r
L : r = (0,1,2) + t (1,0,1), t R
( x, y, z ) = (0,1,2) + t (1,0,1)
x = t

L y = 1
, tR
z = 2 + t

The line is parallel to the xz-plane.


8.3 Vector, Parametric, and Symmetric Equations of a Line in R
2010 Iulia & Teodoru Gugoiu - Page 1 of 2

Calculus and Vectors How to get an A+

D Symmetric Equations
The parametric equations of a line may be written
as:
x x0 = tu x

y y 0 = tu y , t R

z z 0 = tu z
From here, the symmetric equations of the line
are:
x x0 y y 0 z z 0
=
=
ux
uy
uz
u x 0, u y 0, u z 0

Ex 6. Convert the symmetric equations for a line:


x 2 y +1 z
=
= to the parametric and vector
3
2 4
equations.
x 2 = 3t
x 2 y +1 z

=
= = t y + 1 = 2t
2 4
3
z = 4t

x = 2 + 3t

y = 1 2t , t R
z = 4t

r
r = (2,1,0) + t (3,2,4), t R

Ex 5. Convert the vector equation of the line


r
L : r = (0,1,3) + t (1,2,0), t R to the parametric and
symmetric equations.
( x, y, z ) = (0,1,3) + t (1,2,0)
x = t

y = 1 + 2t , t R
z = 3

x
y 1 z + 3
=
=
1
2
0
x
y 1

=
, z = 3
1
2

Ex 7. For each case, find if the given point lies on the given
line.
r
a) L : r = (1,2,3) + t (0,1,2); P(1,4,7)
(1,4,7) = (1,2,3) + t (0,1,2)
(1,4,7) (1,2,3) = t (0,1,2)
(0,2,4) = t (0,1,2) t = 2 P L
x = 2 + 3t

b) L : y = t
; P (0,1,5)
z = 5

0 = 2 + 3t t = 2 / 3

P L
1 = t t = 1

5 = 5 true

x +1 y 2
z
=
=
; P(3,3,3)
2
1
3
3 + 1 3 2 3
=
=
1
3
2
1=1=1 P L
r
Ex 7. Consider the line L : r = (3,2,3) + t (1,2,3), t R . Find
the intersection points between this line and the coordinates
axes and planes.

c) L :

E Intersections
A line intersects the x-axis when y = z = 0 .

x = 3 t

L : y = 2 + 2t
z = 3 3t

A line intersects the xy-plane when z = 0 .

x = 0 t = 3 y = 2 + 2(3) = 4, z = 3 3(3) = 6
yz int = A(0,4,6) = L yz plane
y = 0 t = 1 x = 3 1 = 2, z = 3 3(1) = 0
xz int = B(2,0,0) = L xz plane
z = 0 t = 1 x = 3 1 = 2, y = 2 + 2(1) = 0
xy int = B(2,0,0) = L xy plane
x int = B(2,0,0) = L x axis
Note that y-intercept and z-intercept do not exist.

Reading: Nelson Textbook, Pages 445-448


Homework: Nelson Textbook: Page 449 #1abc, 5acf, 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14
8.3 Vector, Parametric, and Symmetric Equations of a Line in R
2010 Iulia & Teodoru Gugoiu - Page 2 of 2

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